Safety parachute device for aeroplanes



Dec. 23, 1930 v. PELLEGRINO ASAFETY PARACH'UTE DEVICE FOR AEROPLAHES' Filed' March 15. 1929 l l w IZENToIp V/ze 0 ESIZIF'O BY @M ATTORNEY Patented Dec'. 23, 1930- PATENT OFFICE VINCENZO PELLEGRINO, OF RYE, NEW YORK SAFETY PARAGHUTE DEvIcE Fon AEnoPLANEs Applicationmed March 15, 1929. Serial No.'347,227.,

This invention relates generally to new and useful improvements-in aeroplanes and has;v more particular reference to -an aeroplane.l

arachutescachambers being closed by doors held by latchfl .ing means releasableV to permit ejecting means to eject the parachute from the cham- 210 bers.

For lfurther comprehension of the vinvention, and ofV the objects and' advantages thereof, reference will be had to the follow` r ing description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which the va-v rious novel features of the inventiony are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawing forming a Xmaterial part of this disclosure Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an aeroplane constructed according to this inventori.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary\ enlarged plan detail view of a portion of Fit 1. v

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary elevational View poking in the direction of the arrows 3 3 of ig. 2. Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view of one of thestorage chambers.

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 but showing the ejecting means in extended position. Fig. 6 is a similar view to Fig. 4, showing a modified lform storage chamber.

The reference numeral 10 indicates generally an aeroplane having main wings 11 and a pilots chamber 12. A plurality of par? achutes 13 are connected by cables 14 to various points on the tops 'of the wings 11. These cables are of 'groups of `dierent lengths so'that the parachutes assume various heights in which they may expand and not interfere with each other. provided with storage chambers 15, vone for each parachute and preferably arranged with an opening communicating with the edge of the wings. This is not intended as a limitation since the chambers could just as well communicate with the top surface yof ,the wings. Dot and dash lines `16 indicate the p0- `Thewings 11 4are sition of the cables 14 when the parachutes l are disposed within the 'storage chambers.

As'shown in Fig.- 1 the parachutes arein positions for supporting the aero lane.V

Each of the storage cham ersis provided with a pivoted door 17, and latching means 18 are mounted on the wings 1'1 and arranged for latching the doors in closed positions. A branch cable 19 connectswith each of the.;V

latchingmeans and is guided over pulleys 20 mounted on the wings, andconnect with a j:master cord 21 terminating in the vicinity of the pilots chamber 12. "The free end-of the master cord passes thru a standard 22'v fixed upon the wings 11, and ahandle 23 is secured upon this free end and may be conveniently reached by a pilot within the chamber 12. Each of the storage' chambers is provided with an ejecting means 24 shown in detail in Figs. 4 and 5.

Each of the lat-ches 18 consists of a bar 25 pivotally mounted intermediate of its ends upon a post 26 projecting from a wing 11, and said post has an inclined top as indicated by reference numeral 27 so lthat when the bar 18 pivots, it moves in an inclined plane with respect to the horizontal. One end of the bar 18 is provided with Ya latchingnger 28 adapted for engaging againstthe door 17 and holding the door in a lat-ched position. The tenlsion spring 29 isconnected between. the other end of the bar 25 and the wing 11 for urging the latchinginger into its latchi'ng position. The branch cable 19 connects with the end of the bar, remote from the latch finger 28.

Each of the ejecting means contained inthe chambers 15 consists lof a transverse platform 30 having' inwardly projecting stopv arms 3l with otl'fset ends 82 arranged for en-v gaging the ends of a plurality of Openings 33 in the wing'for limiting the outward motion of the platform to a position' substantially aligned with the outer edge of the wing. Coaxial expansion springs 34 are arranged upon the stop arms 31 and act between the platform and the innerface'of the chamber for normally urging the platform4 outwards to its extended position.

- Side members 35 hingedly connect with the edges of the platform 30, and coaxial springs 36 are mounted on the hinged points for normally urging the side members outwards toa position in the same plane as the plane of the platform. In Fig. 4 numeral-37 indicates a parachute in a folded condition within the -storage chamber 15, while the storage chamber is closed.

The door 17 of the chamber is hinged as at 38 and the parachute indicated by numeral 37 rests between the door 17, the platform 30, and the side members 35. In an extended position of the platform as shown in Fig. 5, one of the side members indicated by reference numeral 35( abuts against the hinge 38 of the door 17 and locks the door in an open position against closing, so that the door may not accidently swing closed and the chamber contain no parachute, with the operator of the machine not knowing this condition.

In operation of the device, while the aeroplane is in flight, and in case of emergency, the pilot draws the handle 23 for releasing all of the latches 18. Immediately the eX- pansion springs 35 push forwards on the platforms 30 forcing the doors 17 open and ejecting the parachutes 13 from the storage chambers. These parachutes assume the positions illustrated in Fig. 1 and serve to support the machine.

In Fig. 6 I have shown the storage chamber l5 curved near the door 17 as shown at 15 to guide the parachute 13 to the surface of the wing or body. Springs 34 may be of different size to allow a longer expansion during the curved path of the platform 30.

lVhile I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise construction herein disclosed and the right is reserved to all changes and modifications coming within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is l. In an aeroplane, wings formed with parachute storage chambers, doors normally closing the chambers, latches for holding the doors closed, ejecting means within each chamber for ejecting a parachute automatically upon the opening of the door, and a means for disengaging the latches, said ejecting means consisting of platforms arranged to move within the chambers and urged outwards by springs and arrested in fully extended positions by stop arms, and side members pivoted on the platforms and urged outwards by springs so as to assume positions in the same plane as the platforms in the eX- tended position of the platforms.

2. In an aeroplane, wings formed with parachute storage chambers, doors normally closing the chambers, latches for holding the doors closed, ejecting means within each chamber for ejecting aparachute automatically upon the opening of the door, and a means for disengaging the latches, said ejecting means consisting of platforms arranged to move within the chambers and urged outwards by springs and arrested in fully eX- tended positions by stop arms, and side members pivoted on the platforms and urged outwards by springs so as to assume positions in the same plane as the platforms in the extended position of the platforms, said stop arms projecting from the rear side of the platforms and engaging in openings in said wings and formed with offset ends arranged for engaging the ends of said openings.

3. In an aeroplane, wings formed with parachute storage chambers, doors normally closing the chambers, latches for holding the doors closed, ejectiug means within each chamber for ejecting a parachute automatically upon the opening of the door, and a means for disengaging the latches, said ejecting means consisting of platforms arranged to move within the chambers and urged outwards by springs'and arrested in fully eX- tended positions by stop arms, and side inembers pivoted on the platforms and urged outwards by Springs so as to assume positions in the same plane as the platforms in the eX- tended position of the platforms, said stop arms projecting from the rear side of the platforms and engaging in openings in said wings and formed with offset ends arranged for engaging the ends of said openings, and the springs for ejecting the platforms being coaXially mounted on said stop arms.

4. In an aeroplane, wings formed with parachute storage chambers, doors normally closing the chambers, latchesfor holding the doors closed, ejecting means within each chamber for ejecting a parachute automatically upon the opening of the door, and a means for disengaging the latches, said ejectmg means consisting of platforms arranged to move within the chambers and urged outwardsby springs and arrested in fully eX- tended positions by stop arms, and side members pivoted on the platforms and urged outwards so as to assume positions in the same plane as the platforms in the extended position of the platforms, springs being coaxially mounted on the hinge points of said side members for accomplishing the outward urging of the side members.

In testimony whereof I have aiiiXed my signature.

VINCENZO -PELLEGRINO. 

